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Director's Blog

Jerry Reed, Director of SPRC Each month, SPRC Director Jerry Reed will offer his perspective on a current issue in suicide prevention. Jerry, who has been working in the field of suicide prevention since 1997 and with SPRC since 2008, brings to his role significant experience in advocacy and public policy, a 15-year career as a civil servant with the Department of the Army, and experience working directly with the U.S. Congress. Jerry’s professional interest in the field of suicide prevention started as a result of his work in the Office of Senator Harry Reid.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

Posted by on October 18, 2012

Ten years ago, in October 2002, the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) was established with funding from SAMHSA. Its mission when originally appropriated by Congress was to:

  • provide technical assistance in developing, implementing and evaluating effective suicide prevention programs
  • provide training and field support
  • serve as a ...

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A New National Strategy...Now What?

Posted by on September 13, 2012

By Jerry Reed & Elly Stout

This year we celebrate Suicide Prevention Week with revitalized purpose as we welcome a new National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. For the first time since 2001, we have an updated Strategy to guide the nation, drawing on eleven years of growth and advances in our field. 

The National Strategy is a call to...

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NFL Demonstrates We All Have a Role to Play in Advancing Suicide Prevention

Posted by on July 31, 2012

As a member of the Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, I am honored to be a part of a pioneering effort to engage public and private sector resources and support to bolster a coordinated national response to suicide. Working to bring about enduring change in the way our communities and various sectors address this issue has shed...

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How Far We’ve Come

Posted by on July 3, 2012

I entered the field of suicide prevention in 1996 when, after fourteen years as a civil servant with the Department of the Army, I joined the U.S. Senate first as a fellow and then as a staffer. I attended a U.S. Senate Aging Committee hearing on mental health and the elderly with my then-boss, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).  While preparing for the hearing I called the Nevada state aging...

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A Big Step Forward

Posted by on May 11, 2012

On March 29, 2012, Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington State signed into law the Matt Adler Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management Act written to improve health care professionals' preparedness in the screening, assessment, and treatment of people who are...

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